Cleaning is a necessary evil! We all want to keep our premises neat and clean. Being in a clean environment will help to maintain your health and keep your mind organized and refreshed. With cleaning, the most basic thing to remember is that there is always an easier way to clean; you just need to know the trick.

There are various cleaning hacks that are used by so many people to help clean things which you have sp…………… continues on BoldSky

Even if you’re not entertaining for the holidays, you probably don’t like spending more time in the kitchen than you have to. That’s what Consumer Reports readers told us in a recent survey. A few tricks can speed you through a weeknight meal and if you adopt good habits now you’ll be ready to face the aftermath when you host your next dinner party. Here are some ways to make cleanup a bit less laborious:

Get organized. Precious minutes are lost looking for misplaced items and uncluttering countertops so that they can be used for meal prep. Try to put things close at hand. Cutting boards and sharp knives belong near the food-prep area. Check your cleaning supplies, make sure you have some stain removers on hand and stock up on paper towels. The Bounty DuraTowel was tops in our tests.

Clean as you go. When preparing your meal, wash dishes, cutting boards, knives and other equipment as you go. Don’t stack dirty dishes or glasses on the counter, put them in the dishwasher immediately. Rinse wine glasses and put them aside to hand wash at an…………… continues on ConsumerReports.org

CHICAGO (AP/WOOD) — Accidental poisonings from squishy laundry detergent packets sometimes mistaken for toys or candy landed more than 700 U.S. children in the hospital in just two years, researchers report. Coma and seizures were among the most serious complications.

The cases stem from the more than 17,000 poison center calls about the products received in the past two years. The calls involved children younger than 6 and most weren’t seriously harmed. But one child died last year and the potential risks highlight a need for even safer packaging, the researchers said.

West Michigan has had its own cases.

“We’ve seen kids who have had burns down their esophagus and have had to stay in the hospital for days at a time as these heal up, and rarely we see kids who become unconscious,” said Dr. Brad Riley, an emergency physician and medical toxicologist at Helen DeVos Children’s Hospital.

He said eating the pods can lead to burns in the mouth and throat and that the only thing done is supportive care, not treatment.

“If they can’t eat, they get IVs placed to give them fluids,” he said.

Fortunately, Dr. Bradley said, serious cases are rare. He said most children come into the emergency room and are released shortly thereafter.

Still, he says prevention is critical. The cleaning industry released a survey last week showing…………… continues on WOODTV.com

CHICAGO — Accidental poisonings from squishy laundry detergent packets sometimes mistaken for toys or candy landed more than 700 U.S. children in the hospital in just two years, researchers report. Coma and seizures were among the most serious complications.

The cases stem from the more than 17,000 poison center calls about the products received in the past two years. The calls involved children younger than 6 and most weren’t seriously harmed. But one child died last year and the potential risks highlight a need for even safer packaging, the researchers said.

Some manufacturers already have revised packaging and labels in efforts to make the detergent packets or “pods” safer for children. The study found calls dipped slightly after some of those changes were made.

The products contain concentrated liquid laundry soap and became widely available in the U.S. two years ago. Some are multicolored and may look enticing to young children. Poisoning or injuries including mouth, throat and eye burns can occur when kids burst the capsules or put them…………… continues on EMS1.com

The Lazy-Girl’s Guide to Cleaning Up Your Clutter

The overlords of Silicon Valley’s thriving service economy received some bad news this week as two sisters filed a class-action lawsuit against Handy, claiming the maid-on-demand service violated a ream of labor laws.

In a complaint filed in California state court, former workers Vilma and Greta Zenelaj said that Handy failed to remit tips or overtime wages, denied them rest and meal breaks, and failed to issue wage stubs as required by law.

In response to the lawsuit, which was reported by ValleyWag, a Handy spokesperson provided the following statement:

“Professionals who use the Handy platform to book jobs are independent contractors, not Handy employees. They choose the Handy platform because it provides much needed flexibility by allowing them to book whatever jobs best suit them. Moreover, on average, professionals earn more than $ 18 an hour for each job booked on the platform, far above minimum wage. The lawsuits filed by Vilma & Greta Zenelaj, as well as Lulu Malone, are without merit and we intend to defend them vigorously.”

The crux of the lawsuit, which seeks to represent hundreds of current and former Handy workers, is w…………… continues on Gigaom

Speedy cleaning: tips to clean faster, more efficientlyNews from Stuff.co.nz:

Cleaning your house in a flash is not as difficult as you think.

RACHEL CLUN

SPICK AND SPAN: Learning how to clean more efficiently means you’ll have more time for the fun stuff.

Cleaning is called a chore for a good reason: most of us find it tedious and annoying, especially when we have better things to do.

That’s why this speedy cleaning guide is your new best friend – you’ll have the house spotless in record time.

1. Stay focused

Don’t be tempted to check Instagram or Facebook, because it will only slow your cleaning down. Put your phone and laptop away, and put on some music if you feel you need something to get you going. By chucking on music similar to your exercise playlist you’ll be motivated to move, and move faster.

2. Group jobs together, not rooms

It might feel more efficient to do each room separately, but it’s actually better to group your chores into tasks such as dusting, vacuuming and mopping, so you don’t have to keep switching cleaning products or tools. It might involve more running around but that just means you’re getting more exercise, and more exercise is never a bad thing.

How to Remove that Thrift Store Smell, and Other Vintage Cleaning TipsNews from Racked National:

Photo by Driely S. for Racked

If you’re someone who’s big into thrift stores or is an avid collector of vintage clothing, you’ve likely faced one or more of these common problems: mystery stains, fabric that’s yellowed from age and exposure, leather goods that are scuffed, nicked, or dried out, and the most ubiquitous of thrifting issues…that horrible musty smell.

Well, woes be gone! We’ve got a whole countdown’s worth of ways to tackle all those vexing vintage conundrums.

Five Ways to Get Rid of that Vintage Smell

Activated CharcoalActivated charcoal, also found under the names activated carbon, active carbon, and active charcoal, can be purchased loose in pet supply stores (look in the fish section!) or in brick form from companies like Innofresh. It’s a great odor absorber and neutralizer; to use, seal the offending item in a lidded container or large sealable bag (even a trash bag will do) along with the activated charcoal for 24 hours, or even up…………… continues on Racked National